On a day when runs were generally hard to come by, Burley and Steeton produced over 450 between them in an intriguing tussle in Aire-Wharfe-League Division One.

Captain Neil Spragg (51), Craig Walton (49), South African Jonny Stander (32), Andy Luxton (27) and Jon Best (20no) led the way as Steeton reached 233-9 in their innings, reduced to 45 overs by the weather. Jason Wright picked up 4-69.

But Burley, and especially Ed Brown, were up to the challenge, despite Stephen Pearson taking two early wickets.

Brown hit an unbeaten 95 and, with Nick Brook weighing in with 46, they got home with three wickets and seven balls to spare, James Emmott being the pick of the Steeton bowlers with 3-38 from 8.5 overs and Pearson taking three catches.

Opener Phil Atkinson kept the visitors on target as partners came and went, and he faced the final ball from Gary Owens needing four to win but was caught by Andrew Fergie to clinch the game for Skipton.

Upper Wharfedale’s home match against Tong Park Esholt was the only first-team game in which there was no play.

After finishing bottom of the league last season, Silsden now find themselves top of Division Three after two opening wins.

Sadir Khan hit 80 in their 172 then took 3-25 and, with Iqbal Khan (4-23) and Gulsheraz Ahmed (3-21), dismissed Bardsey for 91.

In Sunday’s Waddilove Cup preliminary round, Steeton showed the strength in depth of their batting after staring defeat in the face against Follifoot.

Facing a score of 240-6, which was helped by 42 extras, including 20 wides, Steeton were 24-4, only for Spragg (78) and Andrew Foulds (28) to add 36 for the sixth wicket, Spragg hitting two sixes and five fours in his 104-ball innings.

Follifoot were still overwhelming favourites at 83-7 but Pearson (75no) put on 83 with Spragg before the latter was dismissed.

Steeton now needed 74 runs off nine overs and Emmott (22no off 21 balls) and Pearson, who hit six fours and a six off 70 balls, saw the Summerhill Laners home with five balls to spare in an unbroken partnership of 75.

Nichols hit a third straight half-century for Skipton but they went from 105-2 to 132-4 in losing by 32 runs to Bolton Villas.